A Russian draft resolution to oppose military action in space was rejected by the UN Security Council on Monday, raising doubts about Moscow’s seriousness in the wake of its veto of an American text in April that opposed the spread of nuclear weapons to the last frontier.
All states were urged in the Russian language to “take urgent measures to prevent for all time the placement of weapons in outer space and the threat or use of force in outer space.”
Seven countries voted in favor of it, including China; seven voted against it, including the US, the UK, and France; Switzerland did not vote.
Robert Wood, the US envoy, described the action as “the culmination of Russia’s campaign of diplomatic gaslighting.”
“Russia does not want the Security Council to focus on its dangerous actions in space,” he said, citing US accusations that Moscow was attempting to put a nuclear weapon into orbit.
Russia’s UN ambassador Vasily Nebenzya meanwhile said those on his side “on the whole are pleased with the results of the vote.”
“The vote has demonstrated a watershed — a watershed between those who are striving towards peaceful use of outer space and those who are moving towards militarization of outer space,” he said.
“Western countries have today essentially turned out to be isolated at the Security Council.”
The text closely mirrored a draft resolution that China abstained from and that was put out by the United States and Japan in late April. The resolution gained 13 votes in favor but was vetoed by Russia.
For proposals to be adopted by the UN Security Council, there must be nine votes in favor and no opposition from the five veto-wielding members.
The American document urged “all states, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the objective of the peaceful use of outer space and of the prevention of an arms race in outer space.”
It reiterated “the obligation of all States Parties to fully comply with the Outer Space Treaty, including not to place in orbit around the Earth any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction.”
Following the voting in April, Nebenzya declared that the language concealed a “devious plan by our Western colleagues that has nothing to do with this noble objective.”
He accused Tokyo and Washington of having a “lack of interest” in preventing all weapons from entering orbit and instead attempting to concentrate just on nuclear and other WMDs.
